The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
has said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, he does not
intend to be president when the Republic of Biafra was eventually
actualized.
Kanu told newsmen that he always preferred to operate from the
background, pointing out that if the pioneer leader of the Movement for
the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph
Uwazurike had remained consistent with the struggle, he would not be
doing what he is doing with IPOB.
Insisting that the actualization of a Republic of Biafra was a foregone
conclusion, the IPOB leader said he also sympathized with the South East
governors and some other political office holders’ position on Biafra,
attributing it to their fear of losing their positions and political
relevance in Nigeria. He, however, said the fear being entertained by
such Igbo leaders was neither here nor there because the Biafra Republic
would be founded on the principle of justice, equity and fairness.
He was also happy that some Igbo leaders were already identifying with
the struggle and encouraged them to remain steadfast. He said: “I am
into this struggle because of leadership vacuum. I am into this struggle
because my people are suffering; they are being denied their rights and
privileges and nothing will stop this fight.
I want to assure our people that we are almost there. “The Biafra
Republic is almost here with us. Even if one is from Sokoto, he can be a
Biafran once he believes in our value system of equity, justice and
fairness. “Biafra will be a home for all people who agree with our
values, whether you are from Kano or Sokoto.It will be a place for good
things for good people. Therefore, those who are distancing themselves
from the Biafra struggle will regret it.
If you don’t join the struggle, you will be irrelevant in the end
because Biafra Republic is sure.” Kanu described Afaraukwu -Umuahia
where his father is the traditional ruler as being part of the
headquarters of Biafra where the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had
the popular Ojukwu bunker and operated from till the end of the Biafra
war, adding that there was therefore no way he would abandon his
father’s land which served Biafra in time of need.
MASSOB, BIM plan big Also yesterday, the leadership of the Movement for
the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and Biafra
Independent Movement, BIM, said they have concluded plans to commence a
week-long celebration, to mark the golden jubilee of the birth of Biafra
and the 18th anniversary of MASSOB. The Owerri zonal leader of MASSOB,
Chief Canice Anojuru, disclosed this, while briefing newsmen in Owerri.
“The week-long programme will start with street rallies in all the major
cities across the South East and South South states, on May 22, while
church services will hold May 28.
The celebration will be wrapped up with football matches on May 30,
2017”, the zonal leader said. Anojuru further disclosed that scholars of
international repute, would deliver lectures on the imperatives of
non-violent philosophy, during the celebration.
Answering a question, Anojuru promised that all pro-Biafra agitators,
who are loyal to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, would continue to uphold a
non-violent posture, even as he regretted that the activities of some
agitators “are giving a negative image to the rest of us”.
The zonal leader further explained that they would try to mirror the
past, especially what they experienced during the 30-month war and the
activities of MASSOB since May 22, 1999, when Chief Uwazuruike hoisted
the Biafran flag. “The two pro-Biafran groups founded by Chief Ralph
Uwazuruike, are non-violent and we will remain so, as we continue to
highlight the gross marginalization faced by Ndigbo in Nigeria, for the
world to see”, Anojuru said. “There will be free movement of people and
commercial activities will not be disrupted throughout the seven days of
the jubilee celebration.” We are not fighting to be President of
Nigeria tomorrow–MASSOB In Abakaliki, the leadership of MASSOB/BIM
weekend stated that the long agitation put in place by the group was not
because of its desire to produce the next president of Nigeria but to
be free from the enslavement and bondage of the country.
Briefing newsmen on the preparedness of MASSOB (BIM) to celebrate the
declaration of Biafra in Abakaliki, the leader of the group in Ebonyi
State and Ebonyi North senatorial district, Mr. John Nwifuru added that
no amount of intimidation from security agents would prevent members of
the group from celebrating the declaration of Biafra in the state. He
urged members to maintain law and order during the celebration as MASSOB
remains a non-violent Igbo movement in the country. “We have our
anniversary on the 22nd of May and you know that formally, we do it on
30th but this time around, we feel like doing it on 22nd because we are
now at the new Biafra. Old Biafra is 30th May because our former leader,
Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu 1 declared Biafra on 30
may 1967.
Now, Uwazuruike declared his new Biafra 22nd May. That is why we decided
to do it from 22nd to 30th ; 22nd is the full anniversary as everywhere
will be filled with Biafran jubilation while 30th is our football match
at Abakaliki township stadium to end the celebration. “We want our
members to maintain non-violence because that is what we are known for.
There is nothing like sit at home; you can’t sit at home and be
celebrating; we must come out and do so. We urge our members to maintain
the rule of non-violence during this period of celebration because we
are not violent.”
